Little Simz wins the 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Album Of The Year

18 October 2022, 22:26 | Updated: 18 October 2022, 22:51

Little Simz won the 2022 Mercury Prize for the album Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert. Picture: John Marshall/Press

The prestigious awards ceremony, which celebrates the best British and Irish albums, took place on Tuesday. Find out who was shortlisted here.

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz has won the title of 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Album Of The Year.

Receiving the award, Simz - aka Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo - said: "I'm very very overwhelmed, and very very grateful."

She thanked her collaborator, Inflo, who co-produced this, her fourth album, adding: "We created this album together. I didn't know if I was going to finish this record, going through all the emotions, but he stuck by me."

The judging panel said: "In a year that has, to put it mildly, presented rather a lot of challenges, British and Irish music has thrived more than ever. That made it extremely hard for the judges to choose an overall winner from the 12 Albums Of The Year on the 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW shortlist, simply because all of them had so much to offer.

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert. Picture: Press

"When it came down to it, the judges were so impressed by Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz that everyone could get behind it. This accomplished and complex yet entirely accessible album is the work of someone striving constantly to push herself.

"It deals with themes both personal and political while putting them against music that is as sophisticated as it is varied. The Mercury Prize is all about shining a light on albums of lasting value and real artistry. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert has both."

Wet Leg - Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale - performing at the Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year 2022 ceremony. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

The prestigious ceremony, which took place tonight (Tuesday 18th October) at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, saw performances from Simz, Fergus McCreadie, Gwenno, Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, Kojey Radical, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and Yard Act.

Nova Twins attend the Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year 2022 ceremony. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

The event celebrated the best British and Irish albums of the past year, and Harry Styles who is currently on a US tour, provided a filmed live performance instead. The ceremony was due to take place last month, but was postponed after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Kojey Radical performs during the Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year 2022 at Eventim Apollo. Picture: GettyJMEnternational/Getty Images

Little Simz beat out stiff competition from the likes of Wet Leg, for their self-titled debut album, Sam Fender's chart-topping second outing, Seventeen Going Under and LPs from Self Esteem, Yard Act, Harry Styles and funk-metal duo Nova Twins.

Sam Fender and his band attend the Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year 2022 ceremony. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

Simz joins last year's winner Arlo Parks and the likes of Wolf Alice, Arctic Monkeys and PJ Harvey to be given the award.

Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem attends the Mercury Prize ceremony. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

Bernard Butler and Jessie Buckley at the 2022 Mercurys. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

Who won the 2022 Mercury Prize?

Little Simz has been awarded the 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Album Of The Year for Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert.

Gwenno attends the Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year 2022 awards ceremony at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith. Picture: GettyDavid M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Who was on the Mercury Prize 2022 shortlist?

The 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Albums Of The Year shortlist was:

Fergus McCreadie - Forest Floor
Gwenno - Tresor
Harry Styles - Harry’s House
Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear The Heart
Joy Crookes - Skin
Kojey Radical - Reason To Smile
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Nova Twins - Supernova
Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
Self Esteem - Prioritise Pleasure
Wet Leg - Wet Leg
Yard Act - The Overload

Yard Act performing at the 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Album Of The Year ceremony. Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images

Who performed at the 2022 Mercury Prize?

Fergus McCreadie, Gwenno, Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, Kojey Radical, Little Simz, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and Yard Act. performed at the ceremony.

A filmed live performance from Harry Styles was also shown.